The East-West Schism, or Great Schism, was the split between the Catholic Church, centred in Rome, and the Eastern Orthodox Church, centred in Constantinople. In July 1054 a papal legate, Cardinal Humbert, placed a bull of excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia against Patriarch Michael Cerularius, who responded by excommunicating the legates. The event came after centuries of growing division over doctrine, such as the insertion of the filioque into the creed, over the authority of the pope and over language and culture. The split became lasting after the Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople in 1204. The mutual excommunications were lifted in 1965.
Before and after
- 11th centuryConstruction of St Margaret's Church, Westminster
- c. 1050sChaco Canyon becomes the centre of Ancestral Puebloan life
- 1051Construction of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
- 1054SN 1054
- July 1054East-West Schism
- c. 1058Birth of Al-Ghazali
- 1059Construction of Florence Baptistery
- 1060Origins of Baphuon
- 1062Origins of Margat
More in Art, literature & culture
- c. 500sRise of medieval music
- from 8th century to 9th centuryRise of Carolingian Renaissance
- 11th centuryPublication of The Song of Roland
- 1353Publication of The Decameron
- 1387Publication of The Canterbury Tales
- from 1478 to 1834Spanish Inquisition
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 11th century.